MS Higher Education

Study of historical growth and advancement of colleges and universities in U.S. from Colonial era to "virtual" public and private universities. Integrated overview of contemporary issues, policies and practices that characterize the operational environments of higher education institutions in the 21st century; including financial management, accreditation, curriculum, and institutional planning.

Organizational and administrative structures within the institutional hierarchy are explored as students examine the relationship between the university and the community it serves, the role of outreach in the modern university, and the role of faculty, staff, and student unions in academic operations and Risk Management.

Examines Academic Support and Student Life Services from customer satisfaction perspective including admissions, orientation, student health and counseling, and Greek life. Best practices in Customer Relationship Management is introduced.

Introduction to "typical" institutional accreditation process. Best practices presented for performing an institutional self-study, defining appropriate outcomes aligned with institution's strategic plan as well as introduction to appropriate quantitative and qualitative assessment methods.

This course us designed to assist students with their understanding of how law, politics, and power structures interact to influence the goals and operations of the schools. Students will student the roles of school boards and community organizations, state boards of education, state government agencies, special interest groups, professional organizations, and unions.

Prepares students to make informed decisions as leaders in common institutional and environmental contexts. The focus of the contingency-based perspective of this course is to help leaders understand how best to motivate and coordinate employees and to control outcomes in a manner that ensures they fulfill strategic objectives.

The HE co-op I is the first half of a two quarter sequence in which students work in administrative offices to incorporate their knowledge and develop skills learned in the HE program. The first half of the co-op is designed to prepare students to undertake the hands-on co-op projects they will begin in the second quarter of the co-op.

Students are required to participate in a part-time co-op that lasts no less than two quarters (20 weeks). The co-op is structured to provide students with real-life, hands on experience in higher education. Students work in administrative offices and incorporate the skills and tools they have garnered in the MSHE program.

Strategies for attaining continuous success in academic marketplace are examined including concept development activities and role of professional development in attaining faculty and administrative performance to sustain these strategies.

Detailed overview of key areas affecting campus operations that fall under Finance and Administration units including parking and transportation, non-exempt HR, facilities management, construction, risk management, and environmental health. Introduction to campus master plan development process for strategic planning.

Provides understanding of career patterns of faculty, deans, vice presidents, provosts, and presidents while exploring academic employment markets of these professions. Traditional career paths, diverse points of entry in Higher Education and career development of faculty are explored as well as administrative roles of managing academic units, decision making and change implementation.

Provides a survey of the theory and practice of planning and evaluation as it relates to arts programs. Includes development of critical issues, goals, strategies, outcomes research planning, and protocol development.

Provides knowledge and skills required to acquire and manage sponsored projects from a variety of sources including learning and practicing process of developing proposal, organizational vision, goal setting, political realities, and budget in addition to compliance management and reporting.

Provides study and experience in quantitative and qualitative assessment. Methods for assessing student learning include informal test procedures such as rating scales, checklists, observations, and student self-assessment and formal test procedures such as essay tests, developmental criteria and rubrics, teacher-made objective tests, and standardized tests. Authentic alternative assessments include journals, portfolios, and performance assessments. Processes and problems in test construction and analyzing, summarizing, and reporting student outcomes are examined. Standards for validity and reliability are studied. Qualitative research includes gathering data through observations, interviewing, documentation, and triangulation in field settings. Includes a field component.

Examines the relationship of curricula and instruction to current research in learning and knowledge construction, developing higher-order thinking in specific disciplines and content areas, and the role of understanding and metacognition in learning. Complex problems of pedagogy are identified and analyzed (e.g., interdisciplinary curricula, team teaching, collaborative learning), with attention to designing learning goals and outcomes with effective instructional strategies.

Major professional and educational issues associated with college teaching are addressed. Provides multiple opportunities to develop and enhance teaching skills, as well as exposure to alternative assessment.

Provides comprehensive understanding of institutional research including roles and responsibilities. Students are introduced to database systems, statistical software and research methods to explore multifaceted links of institutional research to key divisions within higher education institutions.

Exposes research tools and theoretical models related to assessing student outcomes and student success measures. Benchmarking and importance of evaluating academic programs and curricula to proactively respond to institutional reporting requirements and accreditation.

Introduction of latest survey tools and statistical software for institutional research. Develops skills related to data gathering and effective reporting with use of latest application and support technologies to maximize research related to institutional effectiveness, program evaluation, and student outcomes.

Introduces students to research design paradigms and the assumptions behind them, use of the literature, developing research questions, qualitative and quantitative procedures, and research study formats.

Introduction to history of enrollment management and how it fits university system. Provides a strong understanding of enrollment process, organizational structure, federal and legislative issues, and importance of diverse student body.

Comprehensive overview of principles and practices of strategic process including marketing and recruitment through graduation. Exposure to contemporary issues and legal problems in enrollment management.

Strategic relationships between financial aid and enrollment management are examined in order to secure desired student mix. Financial Aid guidelines and career management strategies are discussed to explore integration of traditional student financial aid and development of aid packages.

Provides hands-on experience with database systems and programs that support enrollment management offices incorporating Microsoft suite application, SCT Banner, and People Soft. Collaborative assignments will require student manipulate, analyze and report data in different database systems. Strategies to "optimize" the recruitment mix to maximize state budget allocations are examined.